Sports stadium and events venue experts Populous have unveiled designs for the largest video gaming and esports complex in the Southern Hemisphere.

Covering 2,700sq m (29,100sq ft), spread across two floors and with a capacity for over 1,000 people, Fortress Melbourne will house a purpose-built arena with a retractable 200-seat grandstand, a professional boot camp room and training facilities, dedicated areas for LAN, RPG and tabletop gaming, two bars and a 200sq m (2,200sq ft) function room.

Naturally, the venue will also feature a variety of equipment for gaming and broadcasting, including over 50 networked PCs, 56 LAN PCs, at least five big screens throughout the venue for broadcasting live tournaments and video broadcast and production facilities. There will also be "casual console" gaming suites dotted around.

"The venue is designed to create an engaging experience for devoted esports fans and casual gamers alike, bringing everyone together in the one space," said Populous architect and project lead Brayden Goodwin. "The vibe is similar to a traditional bar or club."

Among the other esports venues that Populous have designed are the Fusion Arena, Esports Stadium Arlington and its conceptual Gaming House of the Future.

The venue is expected to open in 2020.